I am so deeply grateful to the Holy Spirit for arranging the gospel selection for today. Because, as promised – or forewarned-- today’s homily is the "Sermon on The Amount," and as you just heard, our text is "Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s."

Now on any other Sunday, Jesus’ words would be just fine just as they are. However, my message to you today is "Give to the emperor the things that are God’s, and to God, the things that are the emperor’s!"

Obviously, I am joking, but when I read my clever little play on words, I realized that there was a morsel of wisdom behind the joke. Especially these days when wars and the threat of wars destabilize world peace and order, the emperors of this world (the power people) really need to know that they are messing around with things that are God’s-- and the people of God need the money.

I mean, if a war with Iraq – for example – would cost the projected 200 billion dollars, and this money was used for Godly purposes, can you imagine how much human suffering and need would be alleviated? And this is but one example.

Ever since the barter system was replaced with a currency based economy, money has become the greatest center of power and influence in the world. So, if you want to change the world-- or our own communities, including the church-- you need to make the money, God’s money! We need to return those things that we thought were Caesar’s to God!

Over the centuries all sorts of political schemes have been developed for the Godly use of money: from atheistic communism, to humanitarian socialism, to religious (or faith based) communalism, to over-tax the rich capitalism. The list goes on and on, but all of these modalities fail to get the point. The Godly use of money does not happen by super-imposing God’s way onto Caesar, but by converting Caesar to God’s way.

When we come to love and follow the God in "whom we live, and move and have our being," as Paul said, our power centers ultimately have to change. Jesus said "You can not love God and mammon too." He knew the spiritually suffocating power of worldly possessions . . . and he knew the spiritual schizophrenia that comes with a split personality . . . split by having two power centers at the core of one life.

Take everything you have, he said, and get that one pearl of great price. Do not let the world’s seductions smother your life. Find your true life by being extravagantly generous with your life.

The concept of Godly stewardship carries a lot of weight and is helpful. But it only goes so far when we consider the truth of the God within. A steward implies that the master is away, at least temporarily. My question is, "Where did the Master go? When did God leave?" Meister Eckhard, the great 14^th century, Rhineland mystic said, "God is at home; we are the ones who have left!" In the old spirituality, when God was "out there," and there was a great distance between us, the view of all of us being stewards of an absentee owner made more sense. But if God is at home and we are the ones who have left, then "stewardship" becomes a call to return home, and tend the kingdom/queendom of heaven that is within us and around us!

The Godly use of money comes from Godly living-- simply the living of our days at home with God. Stewardship is responsible "Daughtership," and "Sonship." Stewardship is loving "Brothership" and "Sistership." Stewardship is sacrificial "Mothership" and "Fathership." Stewardship is self-giving "Friendship" and "Fellowship" among ourselves and all things on and in this planet, our island home.

The Godly use of money-- or the right utilization of any other power point in each of our lives-- happens when we are intentionally aware that God is our being and, like it or not, God is our life. Without God, we would not be here; we wouldn’t even be.

So render unto God what you thought was Caesar’s. How can things that are powerful not be related to God? Even evil erupts from the power God has given humankind to create or destroy out of free choice. Love is the most enduring and life-changing force that we know of. And then there is money and possessions-- a power that runs the world and creates dominant nations and people, a power of God that, like any other power, can be used for incredible good or vast destruction.

Speaking just for our own faith, Christian churches that are growing and making a real impact on their communities and this world are those who do not give an inch to Caesar. Everything is regarded, as it should be, in a sacred light.

I know. Even, and sometimes especially, among committed Christians you can get a lot of damaging judgment and selective love-- but this is true for a smaller number than we like to admit. Most thriving Christian churches have arrived at a faith which enables them to live as those who know that God has a claim on the entirety of their lives, individually and as a congregation. We at St. Paul’s – today— need to make the commitment to move on beyond our fears which hold back from God the power points of our lives. This canvas is a God-given opportunity to get on with it and commit ourselves to the totality of God in each of our lives and resources. We do not need to involve ourselves with complex thought. Letting go is the key that Jesus said would open the door to the queendom or kingdom of God within us, and that includes letting go of a responsible part of our money. (I won’t say a "sacrificial" part of our money, because how can you sacrifice something that you do not own?)

One parishioner shared the honesty of her Christian journey with me. She said, "You know, Hal, money has been the greatest stumbling block in my faith. I can give of myself far more easily than I can make an honest pledge. I struggle with this all the time. I know what money I should be giving, but it is so hard!"

This woman is on her way to a victory, because her honesty to God and to herself will win out. And this just might be the time.

Another person told me recently, "Hal, my greatest problem in pledging is my spouse. This person resents the idea of real stewardship, and they control the money." I should have told this lovely person, "Scripture tells us that Jesus had problems with his family too. Just stay faithful to God and believe that God will find a way to your spouse’s heart." I should have added that I would be available to give the errant spouse a swift kick in the pants! Spiritually speaking, that is.

One of my favorite texts in Scripture is found in Paul’s second letter to the Church at Corinth, chapter one, verses nineteen and twenty. Playing on the word "amen"-- which means a strong affirmation, a hearty "Yes!"-- Paul says this: "For the child of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you . . . was not, ‘Yes and No’; but in Christ it is always ‘Yes!’ For this reason, it is through Christ that we say the ‘Amen’ to the glory of God."

I love this vision of Jesus as God’s great Amen – God’s powerful Yes – to all of us on this world. When we come to know, not just believe, that Jesus is God’s Yes in our life, we uncover the Godly strength and purpose that always is within us. In a life where so many doubts and uncertainties arise, the Yes of God is like a glass of cool water which refreshes us to take on the day. When fears overtake us, God’s affirmation in our soul brings hope and confidence, and we are strengthened to move forward with assurance.

The motto of this year’s every member canvas is "Yes I will! Together we can!" This is our special opportunity to share in the Yes of God. When we say "Yes" in our commitment to God and this parish, we hear the Yes of God ring in our hearts and minds. May all of us grow in the blessings of Yes by responding to God with as much Yes as we truly can bring with our lives and resources!

Well, the rest is up to each one of us. The Captains and their team members will be moving among us to bring in a great harvest of faith, which will be evidenced this time by our joyful and meaningful pledge of money. May God be clear in our vision and in our hearts when we sign our name to our commitment of God’s resources. May we bring all the Yes – all the strength -- of God within us to lay it on the line with our personal Yes for Jesus: Jesus in our heart; Jesus in our church family; Jesus in our community; Jesus in our world.

When you consider how finely you are made, and the overwhelming beauty of the universe and this sustaining earth, your realization of God’s extravagance will call for your generosity. Answer the challenge of this call with your best; nothing less than your quality response will bring you peace and purpose. We live in God’s blessings. Now is a time for us to bless God.